[motor_breathing]

Originally Posted by ampere

Within Kerala there is I think only one best option:

Pollachi-Kollegode-Alathur-Wadakkacherry-Trichur Bypass-Angamaly-Kaladi.

Pollachi to Kalady

For the pollachi route, In google maps there is a Vadakkancherry and a Wadakkacherry.
The route Pollachi-Kollegode-Alathur-Vadakkacherry-Trichur seems shorter.
Could you please clarify. I have to travel all way the till Pandalam from Banaswadi and thinking of avoiding CBE and the dreaded Kuthiran section.

Regards, MB

[denver85]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

For the pollachi route, In google maps there is a Vadakkancherry and a Wadakkacherry.
The route Pollachi-Kollegode-Alathur-Vadakkacherry-Trichur seems shorter.
Could you please clarify. I have to travel all way the till Pandalam from Banaswadi and thinking of avoiding CBE and the dreaded Kuthiran section.

Regards, MB

The Vadakkanchery-Trichur (Mannuthy) is one of the worst stretches(Kuthiran) in NH 47. By going through Koolengode-Alathur-Pazhayannur-Chelakkara-Wadakanchery-Thrissur, you will add an extra 20kms to your drive. If you would have taken both these routes, you will never worry about the extra 20 kms and 15-20 minutes. This is the best route to avoid all the hiccups in NH47.
Regards,
Deepak

[manjubp]

Need help on route to drive back from Guruvayoor to Bangalore starting at 10AM.

Prefer good roads with less traffic, distance/ghat section is not an issue.

[Sathya_sc]

Thanks guys.. I have decided to take..

Chennai - Villupuram - Ulundurpet - Selam - Perundurai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi - Kollengodu - Alathur - Pazhayanur - Chelakkara - Wadakkanchery - Mannuthy - Kalady

and follow the same return route.. Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Nice and Thank you. I can use some guidance for pit stops for breakfast and lunch on this route as it is unfamiliar to me. Going by my planned 4am departure time from Bangalore, Salem sounds like it for breakfast.

As you have past experience driving down this road, can you tell me what speeds are possible after Perundurai.

The only thing left to worry about is dealing with long queues at toll booths.

Sandeep, I believe you are also taking the same route. Once done can yo update status of the route pls?

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by Sathya_sc

Sandeep, I believe you are also taking the same route. Once done can yo update status of the route pls?

Yes I am but it is only on Saturday, 12/22/2012, and I may respond only by Saturday evening.

[Sathya_sc]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Yes I am but it is only on Saturday, 12/22/2012, and I may respond only by Saturday evening.

No problems at all. I am doing this route only by 27th Dec. So any tips before that will help Sandeep.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

For the pollachi route, In google maps there is a Vadakkancherry and a Wadakkacherry.
The route Pollachi-Kollegode-Alathur-Vadakkacherry-Trichur seems shorter.
Could you please clarify. I have to travel all way the till Pandalam from Banaswadi and thinking of avoiding CBE and the dreaded Kuthiran section.

Regards, MB

For Pandalam, I would recommend, Bangalore - Salem - Madurai( bypass) - Rajapalayam - Thenmala - Punalur - Pathanapuram - Pandalam route. This would be shorter and faster.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by manjubp

Need help on route to drive back from Guruvayoor to Bangalore starting at 10AM.

Prefer good roads with less traffic, distance/ghat section is not an issue.

IMO,this one:

Guruvayur-Perumpilavu-Pattambi-Kulappully-Shoranur-Ottapalam-Palakkad-Chandranagar-NH47-Kootupatha-Pollachi-Palladam-Perundurai-NH47-Salem-NH7-Krishnagiri-Bangalore.

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr=...via=7&t=m&z=11

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

For the pollachi route, In google maps there is a Vadakkancherry and a Wadakkacherry.
The route Pollachi-Kollegode-Alathur-Vadakkacherry-Trichur seems shorter.
Could you please clarify. I have to travel all way the till Pandalam from Banaswadi and thinking of avoiding CBE and the dreaded Kuthiran section.

I would second Pramod's suggestion that driving via Palakkad can be quite time consuming for you to reach Pandalam.The Punalur route would be a quicker option for you.

Also just to avoid confusion:Vadakkencheri is on the NH47 between Palakkad and Mannuthy and Wadakancheri is on the Shoranur-Thrissur route.

[A350XWB]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

For Pandalam, I would recommend, Bangalore - Salem - Madurai( bypass) - Rajapalayam - Thenmala - Punalur - Pathanapuram - Pandalam route. This would be shorter and faster.

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

I would second Pramod's suggestion that driving via Palakkad can be quite time consuming for you to reach Pandalam.The Punalur route would be a quicker option for you.

My hometown is Pathanamthitta and I usually take the Dindigul-Theni-Cumbum-Kumily route. According to Google, the Rajapalayam-Thenmala-Punalur route is ~673km and Theni-Cumbum-Kumily route is ~623km. I live 2km away from NICE road, on Bannerghatta road. From door to door, its 623km for me, including bypasses for road widening work between Dindigul-Theni-Cumbum. I could do this travel in 10 and half hours flat, with 2-breaks and speeds never exceeding 110kmph. Pandalam is another 15km from my hometown and I suggest this route, rather than going via Thenmala.

[motor_breathing]

Originally Posted by A350XWB

My hometown is Pathanamthitta and I usually take the Dindigul-Theni-Cumbum-Kumily route. According to Google, the Rajapalayam-Thenmala-Punalur route is ~673km and Theni-Cumbum-Kumily route is ~623km. I live 2km away from NICE road, on Bannerghatta road. From door to door, its 623km for me, including bypasses for road widening work between Dindigul-Theni-Cumbum. I could do this travel in 10 and half hours flat, with 2-breaks and speeds never exceeding 110kmph. Pandalam is another 15km from my hometown and I suggest this route, rather than going via Thenmala.

Few times I have taken Pandalam -> Chenganacherry -> Thengana -> Kumily -> BLR. Because of the winding roads better half and my son had motion sickness. Also I did not gain much of an advantage in this route against the normal Pandalam -> Alapuzha -> CBE -> BLR route.

How is the stretch from Dindigul to Vandiperiyar ?

TIA, MB.

[A350XWB]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

Few times I have taken Pandalam -> Chenganacherry -> Thengana -> Kumily -> BLR. Because of the winding roads better half and my son had motion sickness. Also I did not gain much of an advantage in this route against the normal Pandalam -> Alapuzha -> CBE -> BLR route.
How is the stretch from Dindigul to Vandiperiyar ?

Yes, agree to the winding road part. But you can take it a bit slow

But for Pandalam, you don't have to go through Changanassery and KK road. From Kumily, you can take KK road till about half a kilometer before Mundakkayam. From here, there is a deviation to the left which goes to Erumely. From there on, you can take the Makkapuzha-Ranni-Pathanamthitta-Pandalam route (Route). This is about 117km according to Google. The Changanassery route is around 147km.

Beware of Sabarimala traffic in both the routes during this time though.

Dindigul to Cumbum, there is road widening work going on. But you can bypass most of it by going through Kodai road-Batlagundu-Cumbum (Route). The roads from Kumily till Mundakkayam were mostly good, with some patches which were being filled for the Sabarimala season. So, it should mostly be in good condition, but expect patchy stretches, not too bad.

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by denver85

The Vadakkanchery-Trichur (Mannuthy) is one of the worst stretches(Kuthiran) in NH 47. By going through Koolengode-Alathur-Pazhayannur-Chelakkara-Wadakanchery-Thrissur, you will add an extra 20kms to your drive. If you would have taken both these routes, you will never worry about the extra 20 kms and 15-20 minutes. This is the best route to avoid all the hiccups in NH47.
Regards,
Deepak

Originally Posted by Sathya_sc

Thanks guys.. I have decided to take..

Chennai - Villupuram - Ulundurpet - Selam - Perundurai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi - Kollengodu - Alathur - Pazhayanur - Chelakkara - Wadakkanchery - Mannuthy - Kalady

Not to confuse you anymore Sathya_sc, but thought I will share my view. I am from Thrissur area. I drove from Bangalore to Thrissur on Dec 8th in an IndigoCS. The road between Kuthiran to Pattikkad is bad, but its only for some 12km. Its certainly drive able road. I covered the 27 km distance from Wadakkumchery to Mannuthy in around 45 mts. Within this stretch, do not go beyond 60kmph, BIG potholes may appear from no where.
I suggest you make your decision to take the diversion of Alathur - Pazhayanur - Chelakkara - Wadakkanchery - Mannuthy depending on what time you arrive at Alathur. If you are reaching Alathur after 8 AM and before 7 PM, you will encounter heavy traffic in this route. Net net, you may save some potholes, but will drive 59 km instead of 39 km in heavy traffic and will end up spending more time.

I will stick to Alathur - Mannuthy NH anytime than the Pazhayanur - Chelakkara - Wadakkanchery route.

I saw road repair preparations going on when I traveled. When you reach Alathur, ask the locals or vehicles coming from Mannuthy side about the road conditions and take a decision accordingly.

[bijujj]

Originally Posted by bijujj

I am planning to drive from Chennai to Kottayam and am planning to take the above mentioned route. I have couple of queries.

1.How is the traffic condition now? Is there any traffic jam near Kumali due to Sabarimala season.
2. How is the road condition? Is there any stretch between Dindigul to Kumali that I should avoid.
3. Since I am travelling with family, it will be helpful to know the best places/hotels to take break after Trichy.
4. If I start at 5:30 AM, typically when can I expect to reach Kottayam

Thanks lot
Biju

I saw lot of useful suggestions in the thread, thanks for the same. Have one more query.

Since I am driving down from Chennai, which of the following will be better
a.) Chennai ->Trichy->Dindigul->(deviation via Vaigai, Kanavilakku)->Theni
b.) Chennai -> Trichy -Madurai->Theni

I know the distance is less for option a.), but considering the road-widening, would be b.) be a better option?

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by arjithin

I will stick to Alathur - Mannuthy NH anytime than the Pazhayanur - Chelakkara - Wadakkanchery route.

Why so? Are you suggesting this as a distance and time saving measure or is there something wrong with the Pazhayanur - Wadakkanchery route?

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Why so? Are you suggesting this as a distance and time saving measure or is there something wrong with the Pazhayanur - Wadakkanchery route?

To me, the Kuthiran section is not that bad to take a diversion for Pazhaannur/Wadakkanchery and cover the extra distance/traffic/time.

Occasionally very long traffic jams happens at Kuthiran. I normally take a break at Wadakkumchery in my trips (Diana hotel or a veg hotel 50 meter away). The best way to identify the jams is to ask locals at Wadakkumchery and observe if interstate trucks/cars are coming from Mannuthy side or not.